How to Commission a Children’s Cartoon: From Idea to Finished Animation

Why you might want animation in the first place!

Keith Haring Artist Biography - Tentacle Media x CBeebies

Children’s animations aren’t just about bright colours and bizarre characters. They can teach lessons, spark imagination, and create lasting memories.

You can bring a children’s book to life, animate a fun brand mascot, or create short animated learning resources for your class.

Whatever your reason, commissioning a children’s cartoon can be an exciting and effective way to bring your ideas to life.

If you’ve never hired an animation studio before, it can feel a bit overwhelming. But don’t worry! Here is a step-by-step walk through of what to expect.

A collage of designs and assets created by Tentacle Media

Get Your Idea Clear

Think about things like:

• Who’s it for?

• What’s the story?

• What style?

• What tone?

Sketch a few rough notes, find examples of things you like, draw influence from what inspires you and your audience.

Tentacle Media Active Travel Campaign Animation for Staffordshire County Council

Find the right studio

Animation studios aren’t all the same.

Each one has a skill set or styles that they are good at, finding a good fit is easy when you think about a few things.

Does the studio have:

• A kids-focussed portfolio

• Good storytelling skills

• The animation skills

• Happy clients

Tentacle Media Resources for City of Glasgow College

Talk Money Early

There is no point approaching a studio asking for a breakdown for a 20 episode series, when you already know what the budget is.

Transparency is key.

The studio will show you exactly who they need involved and how much that will cost, to animate your vision. Likewise, if you have a certain budget, a good studio will be able to tell you what is possible within that.

Prices are based on things like:

• How long it is

• How detailed the art is

• How many characters you have

• Whether you need professional voice artists or original music.

A good studio will give you a clear breakdown so you know where the budget’s going.

William Smith - Tentacle Media x North Lincolnshire Museum

How the Magic Happens

Most animation projects follow these steps:

• Script & Storyboard - Turn your ideas into a visual plan

• Character & Background Design - Creating your world

• Voice Recording - Finding the right talent, tone, and delivery to match

• Animation - Bringing it all to life with movement and expression

• Sound & Music - The final touches that give clarity and the right mood

• Delivery - Exporting the final files ready for whatever platform its heading to

Keep the Project Running Smoothly

Give clear feedback, screenshots, references, or short notes help

Approve each stage before moving on

Share deadlines upfront (again… transparency is key)

Trust your animator’s skills while making sure your vision is still there

Tentacle Media x BBC Education

Ready to Bring Your Ideas to Life?

Commissioning a children’s animation doesn’t have to be stressful, it can be a lot of fun when you work with the right people.

If you’re thinking of working with an animation studio, we’d love to help talk you through the process.

Get in touch and let’s have a chat about bringing your story to life!

Let's have a chat!